This is Outdoors Editor David Figura. I talked to Capt. Tony Buffa (the fishing guide) this afternoon. The man who died in the accident is his cousin, said Tony, who lives in Bridgeport.
"We're roughly the same age. My phone has been ringing off the hook with confusion," he said.

Hey guys, I'm not looking for exact locations. I have no intentions of ruining your honey holes. I'm just looking for general stream conditions throughtout the area and a comment on how you're doing and what you're catching them on. I can't be everywhere at once. This will help my story for Saturday and the other readers who don't get out opening day. By the way, thanks dthmtigod for the editing suggestion. I changed the headline. Questions? Call me at 470-6066 or email me at dfigura@syracuse.com. David Figura, Outdoors Editor

Folks, page 68 of the DEC's 2011-2012 fishing guide specifically notes that Butternut Creek is among three streams in Onondaga County that has stretches of water that are open year-round. It's not catch and release prior to April 1. You can keep five fish, with two no longer than 12 inches.
Bottom line, these fish were legally caught and kept.

Thanks to everyone above who's commented on this. I'm overwhelmed. The pheasant photo above was taken during a story I was working on concerning the stocking of pheasants in local fields by local sportsmen prior to the hunting season. The place where they're raised is a volunteer-run operation next to the Jamesville Correctional Facility. Stay tuned. More to come on all this...